A/N : Here's another chapter. It's not very long, but I hope you'll enjoy it anyway :-D

Thanks everyone for the reviews and again, your enthusiasm XD I know you all want to know what Regina's secret is, but be patient, it won't be revealed at the beginning of this story or they would be no point in writing or reading this ;-) It will come... in time! Patience is a virtue XD And anyway, the story won't stop the moment we'll learn it so... Believe me, there's a lot to come!

The book

Today is one of those days.

A day when she needs her privacy. A little, but not too much. So he's practicing his archery, while she reads at the edge of the field.

Robin stretches his fingers, flexes and relaxes, grabs an arrow and sets it in place, gets in position, bow straight, muscles ready, focused. He was one of the best in his school in London, mostly because he learned the craft when as a child. After all, he did get his first bow when he was three. A plastic little thing that barely worked, but it gave him the passion. When he was old enough, his parents signed him up for a lesson, and he quickly showed his potential.

In less than two years, he won his first contest.

In four, he was leading the team.

In school, he was outstanding, the very best.

Leaving it behind when they arrived in the States had been a hard decision, but he didn't really have a choice.

So when Regina told him they had a team here, when she led him to the teacher and when he got accepted, he'd been over the moon.

Must've been fate, he thinks...

Robin started practicing the moment he found time, and she followed, said she was curious, that it isn't something she's used to. But since the beginning, she assured him she didn't want to bother him. It is after all his hobby, something he likes to do, and they don't have tons of free time, so he should practice freely, she can watch him from one of the benches outside the field.

Regina usually does it, settles there and reads her book, works on her homework, lifts her head up from time to time to look at him, smiles when she witnesses a perfect shot, encouraging, amused, entertained.

Happy, maybe?

But not today.

Today, she seems distracted, has barely lifted her head from the pages, and from where he is and what he knows, she's almost at the end of her novel, has been devouring it the last couple of days, more eagerly than usual. He wonders if maybe it has something to do with the book, with the story. He's not a great reader, doesn't crack a book unless requested, so he doesn't know anything about this passion she seems to show, the intensity of her gaze when she's deep in the story, the way the world is moving around her and she doesn't seem to notice.

As if she was able to escape through a tale, find some peace, some solace.

She talked about it, a little, so he decided to make some researches on his own.

The book is set on an island, Spinalonga, off the coast of Crete, facing the village of Plaka, and its inhabitants. Of a place where people were sent away, because they were different. Because they were sick. Because they were lepers.

The tale of a young woman from London, Alexis, who goes there to discover her roots, where she comes from, where her mother comes from, what this past that has always been hidden from her is, and there she seeks the answers to the life-altering decision she's about to make.

A journey between both past and present, of history and stories, revealing the way people were rejected based on ignorance, how families were torn, broken, and how lives were destroyed.

The secrets and lies of a happy and grieving family, haunted by ghosts of their past.

A reminder that love is everywhere, at every corner, that even when you look away, when you think hope is gone, it can still find you.

He's never heard of it before, but judging by Regina's state of absentmindedness and internal struggle every time she closes the book, it must be captivating.

And she just closed it.

Robin is about to get in position again, glanced at her in reflex, and the book is resting on her lap, her hands folded over it, gaze lost ahead of her, thinking. He wonders if he should go to her, wonders if she needs peace and quiet, or a good ear to listen. Not that she confides much in him, but it's a book, not her private life.

He takes a look at his watch, and practice is almost over, and he only took amazing shots, so he goes to the teacher, asks him to finish early. The man lets him, pats his shoulder with a warm hand, taking his bow and the last arrows from him.

Robin walks to Regina slowly, careful not to surprise her, not to make her jump. He sits next to her while she's still caught up in her thoughts, and waits.

Until she's ready.

Until she opens her mouth, and speaks.

"It was a really beautiful story," she breathes, a tear sliping free, but she lets it, and he's not bold enough to wipe it away, no matter how badly he wants to.

"Did Alexis find the answers she was looking for?"

It pulls her out of her state, at least partially, and she brings a hand to her cheek, sheds it with a shuddering exhale, nodding.

"Yes."

"And?"

She looks at him then, and something changes in her. He's not sure why, but he senses that something different is happening, that she's letting him see more than usual, that she's allowing him in, for a short time, at least.

"And..." She parrots, drawing the word, her eyes looking square into his, "…Things are not always what they appear to be."

It's a message.

He thinks.

He's sure.

A call for help? A clue? A mere observation? A simple comment?

But before he can ask anything else, she pulls herself together, shakes her head, and tilts her chin towards the field.

"Are you finished?"

He blinks.

Actually blinks out of his state, out of the dark eyes he got lost into, shakes his head too, and frowns. "What?"

She gives a pointed look to the archery's field, punctuating it with a nod as she looks back at him.

"Your practice," She explains, and his eyes open in understanding.

"Oh!" he says, leaning back, then clearing his throat, still confused about the moment that just passed between them, the half-revelation, the closeness. "Right. Yes, I'm done for the day."

"Good," she says, standing up from her spot, shoving the book into her purse. "Come on, we still have half an hour before our next class and I want to find a new book at the library."

He stays dazed in front of her for a few more seconds, looking at her with bewilderment, until she tilts her head to the side, brow furrowing. "Robin?"

He shakes his head, grabbing his own bag from the floor before standing to face her. "Alright, let's go!"

Please, even if it's short, tell me what you think!

Title of the next chapter : The ice-cream